Online dating has been around for quite a while, longer than most people think! In fact, JDate first opened its proverbial doors back in 1997, when I was in high school! And Match.com? 1995! I was actually a very early adopter of online dating, using JDate back in 2001, before people really had any idea what it was all about ... and if they did, the reviews weren't positive!
My parents, naturally, flipped out, thinking I was going to meet some psycho-killer, or worse, someone who wasn't worthy of their daughter! The worst that happened, of course, was a few bad dates with some socially awkward men, er, boys who were clueless as to what dating actually involved.
But, why not try it out? I was technologically savvy. I mean, I did have a cell phone in college before anyone else did, even if it was this ridiculously large blue thing that I didn't want anyone to know I had. (It was very uncool to have a cell phone back then.)
I thought we'd take a stroll down memory lane and compare online dating in the early 2000s, when I first started, to online dating today.
THEN
Person 1: Um, I'm going on a date with this guy Sean.
Person 2: That's great! Where did you meet him?
Person 1: Well, we haven't actually "met" yet. I found him on JDate.
Person 2: What?!?! You're not that desperate, are you? Geez _ protect yourself! Tell me all the details. Let me know where you'll be. I just hope you'll be safe. You never know what psychos are hiding on those sites. Wow _ I didn't know anyone I knew would actually try online dating!
NOW
Person 1: Um, I'm going on a date with this guy Sean.
Person 2: That's great! Where did you meet him?
Person 1: On OkCupid.
Person 2: Cool! My sister met her husband on Match.com. Have fun!
